On Tap: 'Case of Libel' opens in Pittsburg

This weekend s performances are 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Impulse Gallery and Theatre, 329 Railroad Ave. in Pittsburg.

"A Case of Libel was inspired by the real-life courtroom battle between journalists Quentin Reynolds and Westbrook Pegler. Written by Henry Denker, this 1963 Broadway play tells the story of Dennis Corcoran, a liberal news correspondent who returns from World War II after performing heroically only to be characterized as a drunkard and Communist sympathizer by an ultraconservative columnist, Boyd Bendix. With the help of a brilliant attorney Robert Sloane, Corcoran brings a libel suit against Boyd.

Additional performances are 8 p.m. March 8 and 2 and 8 p.m. March 9.

General admission is $15, seniors and students $12. Tickets can be reserved by calling 925-439-7529 or at TicketLeap.com.

'Meet Me in St. Louis auditions set

ANTIOCH -- Stage Right Conservatory Theatre will hold auditions for "Meet Me in St. Louis Monday and Tuesday at the Nick Rodriguez Community Center, 213 F St.

This popular play will be directed by Bryan Anthony. Auditions are open to actors ages 8 through18. To receive an audition time, register online at www.srctgrp.org. Performance dates are April 19, 20, 21, 26, 27 and 28. If cast, there is a $75 participation fee. For more audition and show information, call 925-216-4613.

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'Guys and Dolls Jr. opens this weekend

BRENTWOOD -- Brentwood Teen Theater presents "Guys and Dolls Jr., the timeless story of characters inspired by the writing of New York Times columnist Damon Runyon, at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday at the Edna Hill Middle School Theater, 140 Birch St.

"Guys and Dolls Jr. is a fun-filled musical with a variety of hit songs including "I ll Know, "Sit Down You re Rocking The Boat, "A Bushel and a Peck, and "Luck Be a Lady Tonight, and more.

BRENTWOOD -- The Los Medanos College Honors Program presents "A Conversation with Cheryl Strayed, author of the critically acclaimed memoir "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, at 7 to 8:30 p.m. March 6, Heritage High School Auditorium, 101 American Ave.

The evening will be facilitated by Jennifer Saito, math and philosophy professor at Los Medanos College and director of the Honors Program.

The event was inspired by the LMC Honors Program s "Dear Sugar group that arose from this year s Honors Program Yosemite Retreat, where students and faculty who participated, were introduced to Strayed s Pacific Crest Trail hike from Wild. Faculty leaders used two of Strayed s advice columns, "We are Here to Build the House and "That Ecstatic Parade, as an avenue to get students talking about real-life issues with which they are struggling.

Strayed has also authored The New York Times bestseller "Beautiful Things, the novel "Torch, and has written the "Dear Sugar column on TheRumpus.net since March 2010. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, the Washington Post Magazine, Vogue, Creative Nonfiction, The Sun and elsewhere. Her books have been translated into twenty-six languages around the world.

Books will be available for purchase at the event, and a book signing will follow the conversation.

ANTIOCH -- The El Campanil Children s Theatre presents "The Little Mermaid at 7:30 p.m. March 8 and 2 p.m. March 10, 602 W. Second St.

An adaptation by acclaimed children s playwright Lane Riosley of the beautiful fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen as he originally wrote it. Sharon Redman directs.

Having fallen in love with the prince she saved from drowning, the Little Mermaid makes a deal with the sea witch to give up her voice in exchange for human legs. If the Little Mermaid speaks while she s on land, the spell will be broken, and her legs will quickly turn back into fins. Face to face with the prince, her feelings overpower her, and she cannot help but speak to him. She risks her life (and limbs) for only a brief moment to respond to the prince, then quickly dashes off to the sea, taking only a lesson of sadness and a glimpse of what can never be.

General admission is $12, seniors 62 and older $10 and children 17 and younger $8. For tickets, call 925-757-9500, or go to www.elcampaniltheatre.com.

BRENTWOOD -- The Liberty High School Playmakers presents Roald Dahl s "Willy Wonka this weekend at Liberty High School, 850 Second St.

This stage-adapted musical is a timeless classic featuring the world famous candy maker and his quest to find an heir. The musical features great melodies such as "The Candy Man, "Think Positive and "Pure Imagination. More than a hundred students are involved in the cast, crew and pit band.

Performances are 7 p.m. Friday and 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday with additional performances 7 p.m. March 7, 8 and 2 p.m. March 9. At noon Saturday, parents of Playmakers will host a Wonka Factory Fun Party. Admission is $7 and includes lunch -- finishing with a build-your-own sundae. Party goers will have an opportunity to meet, greet and have photos taken with the cast of characters, including Willy Wonka himself.

General admission is $12.50; seniors, children 17 and younger and college students with ID are $9.50; Playmakers, Rising stars and Center Stage members are $7.50. Children 12 and younger are $5.50 at matinee the performances.

As the first of its kind in Brentwood, the exhibit promises to be an unforgettable event showcasing the art work of teachers in the area. Their work is a result many years of experience as a teacher.

The following group of art teachers will gather for the event: Sue Clanton, watercolorist; Big Al Lopez, caricaturist; Josie O Malley, watercolorist, pastel, ink, oil painting; Rosie Grejsen, pottery and ceramic sculpture; Beverly Turner, sculpture; Nancy Roberts, acrylic; Mary Lamb, pottery and Sherry Cummings, watercolorist. Free art demos will be performed by the teachers. A schedule of the art demos will be available at the opening. For information and exhibit hours, call Gus Daugherty, 925-516-4477.

'The Unexpected Guest set for March 16

ANTIOCH -- The Vagabond Players season begins with a bang presenting one of Agatha Christie s favorite mysteries, "The Unexpected Guest.

Stranded and lost in the fog, Michael Starkwedder stumbles into a foggy estate in Wales to discover a man murdered and everyone in the household a suspect -- just when the murder seems solved, Miss Christie pulls her almighty knockout punch and produces one of her famous surprise endings.

Performances are 8 p.m. March 16 and 2 p.m. March 17 at the El Campanil Theatre, 602 W. Second St.

It also plays March 7 at Summerset Vista in Brentwood for residents and guests.

General admission is $15, seniors 62 and older $12 and children 17 and younger $10. Tickets can be reserved by calling 925-757-9500 or online at www.elcampaniltheatre.com.

ANTIOCH -- The Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch will host the ninth annual Art4Schools exhibits at the Lynn House Gallery.

The Art4Schools exhibits features Antioch Unified School District classrooms involved in the Arts4Schools Program, sponsored by the Arts & Cultural Foundation of Antioch, Union Pacific Foundation, the city of Antioch and a Calpine funded through the office of Contra Costa County Supervisor Federal Glover.

The first exhibit includes: Antioch High School, Deer Valley High School and Dozier Libbey Medical High School. The Galley is open Wednesdays and Saturdays, 1-4 p.m., during exhibits. There is no admission fee for the reception or exhibit.

The Art4Schools program will continue with additional exhibits through May 25.

BRENTWOOD -- Heritage High School Rising Stars is the first and only high school drama club in the U. S. to premiere Queen s rock musical "We Will Rock You in 2013.

They will roll out the red carpet presenting an all-out rock-concert production with designer costumes, searchlights, special effects, a logo-laden backdrop, strobe lights and more. Chris Fallows directs.

The story is based in the distant future at a time when musical instruments have been banned and kids are no longer able to make their own music. But resistance is growing. Underneath the gleaming cities, down in the lower depths live the Bohemians. Rebels who believe that there was once a Golden Age when the kids formed their own bands and write their own songs. They call that time, The Rhapsody.

Performances will be 7 p.m. March 8, 9, 14 and 15 and 1 p.m. March 9 and 16 at Heritage High School, 101 American Ave.

Both performances will be at the Los Meganos Event Center, Trilogy At The Vineyards, 1700 Trilogy Parkway, Brentwood.

The Tony Award-nominated Best Musical showcases Richard Rodgers timeless music and the incomparable lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein. It takes a romantic musical journey from young infatuation to the touching and funny complexities of commitment and marriage, the joys of parenthood, and finally, the power of enduring love. From "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin to "Some Enchanted Evening, the revue features more than 30 of Rodgers and Hammerstein s greatest hits.

General admission is $30 and $20 for teens. Tickets can be purchase by calling, 925-516-1741 or 925-513-3863.

The event will feature traditional music performances and exhibits. Speakers who knew of Cesar Chavez or his work in the civil rights movement for farm workers will also be on the program. There will also be display and information tables.